The Cleveland Regional Jet Port (KRZR) hosted a Mountain Flying Course sponsored by Crystal Air Inc.
This was a full day class that also included a lunch of grilled hotdogs, chips, cookies and a drink all provided by the FBO. This full day of training included films and pictures of incidents in Alaska as well as the lower 48 states. Advice ranged from turning and recovery techniques that I am eager to try for myself at a safe distance from terrain.
Tips were given on gathering weather information and understanding how winds are moved by mountains to cause rotor effect that will drive an airplane down far faster than it’s rate of climb. Even flying in valleys is noteworthy when winds are accelerated through the mountains like a Venturi.
Graphs show an advantage to exit at Maneuvering speed, not Best Rate. Another emergency exit tip is to power off, add 20 degrees of flaps and 60 degree bank as this decreases the turn radius. Other tips included the use of oxygen at altitude and recommended gear to survive and get found. They have agreed to give another presentation for us in Knoxville. Perhaps we can entice Tim Hair of Downtown Island Airport to host that event as a service to our many aviation groups located here at the foothills of the Smokies.